Red tail barracuda
Acestrorhynchus falcatus
- Tank length
- 180 cmabout 6 ft (71 in)
- Start with
- 1
- Temperature
- 22–28 °C72–82 °F
- pH
- 6.8–7.4
- Adult size
- 25 cm10 in
- Lifespan
- 8–12 yrs
A fast, nervous fish-eater that swallows tankmates up to half its length and often jumps; needs a long, tightly covered tank.A fast, nervous fish-eater that swallows tankmates up to half its length and often jumps; needs a long, tightly covered tank.
Tank sizes
Good tankmates
Avoid with
- Acei cichlid
No shared pH rangeNo shared pH range
- African butterfly cichlid
Red tail barracuda may eat African butterfly cichlidRed tail barracuda may eat African butterfly cichlid
- Agassiz's cory
Red tail barracuda may eat Agassiz's coryRed tail barracuda may eat Agassiz's cory
Amano shrimpRed tail barracuda may eat Amano shrimpRed tail barracuda may eat Amano shrimp
- American flagfish
Red tail barracuda may eat American flagfishRed tail barracuda may eat American flagfish
- Arfak rainbowfish
Red tail barracuda may eat Arfak rainbowfishRed tail barracuda may eat Arfak rainbowfish
Assassin snailRed tail barracuda may eat Assassin snailRed tail barracuda may eat Assassin snail
- Bandit cory
Red tail barracuda may eat Bandit coryRed tail barracuda may eat Bandit cory
- Batanta rainbowfish
Red tail barracuda may eat Batanta rainbowfishRed tail barracuda may eat Batanta rainbowfish
- Black kuhli loach
Red tail barracuda may eat Black kuhli loachRed tail barracuda may eat Black kuhli loach
Black neon tetraRed tail barracuda may eat Black neon tetraRed tail barracuda may eat Black neon tetra
- Black phantom tetra
Red tail barracuda may eat Black phantom tetraRed tail barracuda may eat Black phantom tetra
Data used by the planner
| Temperature | 22–28 | AqAdvisor (aqadvisor.com), retrieved 2026-10-04 · medium confidence |
|---|---|---|
| pH | 6.8–7.4 | AqAdvisor (aqadvisor.com), retrieved 2026-10-04 · medium confidence |
| Hardness (dGH) | 8–15 | AqAdvisor (aqadvisor.com), retrieved 2026-10-04 · medium confidence |
| Origin | Amazon and Orinoco basins and the Guianas | curated-v0 (needs expert review) · low confidence |
| Beginner friendly | No | curated-v0 (needs expert review) · medium confidence |
| Care level | advanced | curated-v0 (needs expert review) · medium confidence |
| Activity | active | curated-v0 (needs expert review) · medium confidence |
| Swimming level | middle | curated-v0 (needs expert review) · medium confidence |
| Temperament | predatory | curated-v0 (needs expert review) · medium confidence |
| Nips fins | No | curated-v0 (needs expert review) · medium confidence |
| Long fins | No | curated-v0 (needs expert review) · medium confidence |
| Territorial | No | curated-v0 (needs expert review) · medium confidence |
| Lives in groups | No | curated-v0 (needs expert review) · medium confidence |
| Minimum group | 1 | curated-v0 (needs expert review) · medium confidence |
| Diet | carnivore | curated-v0 (needs expert review) · medium confidence |
| Lifespan (years) | 8–12 | curated-v0 (needs expert review) · low confidence |
| Months to adult size | 18 | curated-v0 (needs expert review) · low confidence |
| Safe with plants | Yes | curated-v0 (needs expert review) · medium confidence |
| Minimum tank length | 180 | curated-v0 (needs expert review) · medium confidence |